Fishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus having a holder for supporting and retaining one end of a fishing pole, the apparatus including a mechanism operative to drive the holder and impart thereto a particular cyclic swinging motion to the pole, the mechanism also producing at one part of the cycle a whipping action on the line at the free end of the pole.

United States Patent Scott [54] FISHING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: LeonardE. Scott, 824 Norfolk Ave.,

Westchester, 111. 60153 [22] Filed: June 24, 1970 21 App1.No.: 49,267

[52] US. Cl.... ..43/19.2 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 87/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..43/l9.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,422,561 l/1969 McLean..43/19.2

[ 51 May 30,1972

Boughton ..43/l9.2 Speidell ..43/19.2

Primary ExaminerLucie H. Laudenslager Attorney-Rummler & Snow [57]ABSTRACT 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 111! WW W i 22 2 Sheets-Sheetllllll 'm" l5 /0 32 p f f 11ml "W INVENTOR. LEONARD E. SCOTT PatentedMay 30, 1972 Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,633

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

lNVE/VTOR LEONARD E. SCOTT FISHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe instant invention relates to an apparatus adaptable for use with afishing pole of the type usually associated with still fishing and isoperative to impart motion or action to the pole which is transmitted toan associated bait or lure. It has long been known that some fish areattracted to lures having particular movements or actions as they areretrieved during casting, fly fishing or trolling. However casting andfly fishing require specialized equipment, and the action and movementof the lures are subjectively dependent on the particular expertise ofthe operator. Trolling on the other hand merely involves the pulling ofthe lure through the water from a boat at a distance therefrom where thespeed and direction of the lure is normally that of the boat. On theother hand the ordinary and relatively inexpensive fishing pole isusually used as a still fishing instrument since imparting movement oraction to bait or lures used therewith would require constant attentionand effort by the operator.

A broad object of the invention is to provide an apparatus operative tohold and swing a fishing pole in such a manner that movement and actionis imparted to the bait or lure associated therewith.

An object of the invention is to provide that the apparatus have aholder for retaining and supporting the fishing pole at one end thereofwherein the holder is operative to impart a cyclic swinging motion tothe pole.

A still further object of the invention is to provide that the apparatusincorporate a drive mechanism connected to the holder which is driven byan electric motor such that the frequency of the swinging movement ofthe pole can be selectively controlled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide that the apparatushave a pair of spaced apart holders each swingingly driven by the drivemechanism.

A more specific object of the foregoing is to provide that the apparatusis mountable on a boat wherein the poles can be respectively disposed tothe port and starboard thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide another embodiment with amechanism operative to produce a swinging and whipping action on thepole by driving the holder in a particular manner.

Another object of the foregoing is to provide that the above mentionedembodiment incorporate a plurality of holders each driven such that theswinging and whipping action is transmitted to each of them.

A more specific object of the foregoing is to provide that theembodiment have the mechanism driven by an electric motor controllablesuch that the frequency and intensity of the swinging and whippingaction respectively can be selectively chosen to a particular lure orbait employed.

The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will beapparent from the following more particular description of preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing theinstant invention, i.e. the fishing apparatus mounted in operativedisposition on a boat;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially at line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holder operative to support and retaina fishing pole;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a flexible linkage portion ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 9 is the bottom view of the first embodiment showing the flexiblelinkage in a deflected position;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism of the secondembodiment; and

FIG. 12 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electric motor andassociated controls coupled to a source utilized in both embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning attention to FIG. 1,the first embodiment of the instant invention, namely an apparatus,generally designated 10, for imparting a cyclic movement or action to afishing pole l l, is shown in typical operating position on a boat 12.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the apparatus 10 comprises a housing 14which also serves as a supporting framework for the operating componentsof the apparatus as explained hereinafter. The housing 14 comprises anelongated wall 15 merging into longitudinal side walls 16 and 17 whichdepend downwardly in flanking relation from the top wall 16. Disposed ateach end of the top and side walls are end walls 18 and 19 which havebeen secured to the adjacent top and side walls by suitable means suchas welding. Mounting flanges 21 and 22 with slots 23, 24 have beenaffixed to the end walls 18 and 19 respectively, and serve to provide ameans by which the apparatus can be secured in place on a boat asindicated in FIG. 1. It can be seen that the side walls l6, l7 and endwalls 18, 19 form a cavity or space 25 therebetween.

A motor housing 26 is centrally mounted and secured to the housing 14 bybolts 27 some of which are shown in FIG. 3. The motor housing 26 housesa universal type motor schematically indicated as 28 in FIG. 12. Themotor 28 has a driven shaft 29 which extends downwardly through the topwall 15 into the space 25. A switch 30 and a variable impedance device31 having a control knob 32 are mounted conveniently in the side wall16. The universal motor is commonly known in the art as a series typemotor and is characteristically operable from either direct current (DC)or alternating current (A.C.) sources, and has speed characteristicseasily controlled by varying the voltage impressed across the motorterminals. Referring to FIG. 12, it can be seen that a power source 34is depicted diagramatically and can be either a direct or alternatingcurrent. One terminal of the source is connected by conductor 35 to theswitch 30 which in turn is connected through conductor 36 to the inputof the variable impedance 31. The output from the variable impedance andthe other terminal of the source are connected across the motor 28 bylines 37 and 38 as shown. The variable impedance 31 may be a rheostatwhich would be suitable for both DC. and AC. sources. However it iscontemplated that other known devices capable of selectively varying thevoltage impressed across the motor could be used.

A pair of essentially identical fishing pole holders generallydesignated 40 are diametrically mounted on the top wall 15 adjacent theend walls 18 and 19. Each holder comprises a pole retaining andsupporting tube 41 having a partial cut away portion 42 definingupwardly extending walls 43 and 44 which merge together forming asemicylindrically shaped concavity 45. The wall 44 extends upwardly pastthe curvature of the tube 41 and has a slot 46 useful for retaining ties(not shown) when the diameter of the pole is such that it does notextend above the walls 43 and 44. A wedge shaped member 47 is affixed tothe bottom of the tube 41 and the top of a support block 48. It can beseen that the member 47 positions the attitude of the supporting tube 41so that a fishing pole supported and retained therein will extendoutwardly in' an inclined orientation relative to the top wall 15. Thesupport block has an internal bore 50 intersected by a threaded bore 51.A shaft 52 is retained in the internal bore 50 by a set screw 53threaded into the bore 51 such that it engages a groove 52a in an endportion of the shaft 52 to thereby secure the shaft thereto. The supportblock 48 is positioned on a base plate 55 having a centrally locatedstud portion 56. The base plate and stud portion (55, 56) have a commonbore 57 in which has been pressed a bushing 58. The stud portion 56 isplaced through a close fitting hole 13 in the top wall 15 and securedthereto by screws 59 extending into the aligned-threaded bores 55a. Thesupporting block 48 with the shaft 52 extending therefrom is placed onthe base plate 55 with the shaft extending downwardly into the space 25.The lower end of the shaft has an internal threaded bore 62.

Referring again to FIG. 3, there is shown a linkage assembly 65 which isoperative to provide a unique drive from the motor 28 to the fishingpole holders 40. As best seen in FIG. 8, the linkage assembly comprisesdrive crank arm 66 affixed to the motor shaft 24 in radial extensiontherefrom. A flexible and resilient drive arm 67 has one end pivotallyconnected by pin 68 to the crank arm 66 in spaced relation from themotor shaft 29 thereby producing an eccentric thereat. The flexibledrive arm 67 extends along the wall 16 to pivotally connect at the otherend thereof to a rocker arm 69 by means of pin 70. The rocker arm 69 iscentrally connected to the shaft 52 of the pole holder 40 by means of abolt 63 threaded into the bore 62 of the shaft. The bolt is sufficientlytightened so that the rocker arm 69 is positioned as shown and whendriven is effective to impart a rocking movement of the shaft 52 aboutits principal axis. The other end of the rocker arm 69 is pivotallyconnected by pin 71 to one end of a tie arm 72 extending along wall 17to the fishing pole holder at the other end of the housing. The otherend of the tie arm 72 pivotally connects to one end of an arm 73 bymeans of a pin 74. Here again the arm 73 is affixedly connected to theshaft 52 of the holder at that end by means of a bolt threaded into thebore 62. The arm 73 is positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 4 andis effective to impart a rocking movement of the shaft 52 about itsaxis.

Returning again to the flexible arm 67 which has unique functioningcharacteristics in the apparatus, it can be seen that the arm comprisestwo substantially rigid members 75 and 76 having one of their endspivotally connected in the alternative to the crank arm 66 and rockerarm 69. Each of Each of the members (75 76) terminates at its other endto define a distal end face 78 and 79, respectively. The faces 78, 79terminate such that a gap is provided therebetween. Centrally locatedand welded to each face is a resilient strut 81 preferably made fromspring steel (see FIG. 6). A coil spring 82 is fastened at each endrespectively to the faces 78 and 79 by means such as welding. It can beappreciated that the above described construction of the arm 67 producesa flexible and resilient elongated member which can deflect and bendbetween its ends in an energy storing manner which when released willsnap back into its original elongated shape.

A cam element 83 is mounted on the edge of the arm member 75 facing wall16 at a location adjacent the end pivotally connected to the crank arm66. The cam element has a face 84 oriented relative to the wall 16 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 9. Disposed on the wall for engagement with the camelement 83 is a roller 85 rotatably mounted on an axle 86 which is heldby a yoke 87 in substantial parallel relation to the wall 16.

During the operation of the instant invention, the switch 30 is turnedon and the motor 28 is energized. It is assumed that the variableimpedance 31 is set to provide for motor shaft rotation. As the motorshaft 29 rotates, the crank arm 66 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow designated A (FIG. 9). The rotational motion producesreciporcating movement in the flexible drive arm 67. The arm 67 has anelliptical motion angularly toward the wall 16 in a direction toward theend wall 19. When this occurs, the cam element 83 approaches the roller85, and as this happens, the roller engages the oblique face 84 of thecam element as shown in FIG. 7. The roller 85 rolls upon the face 84producing a bending force on the flexible arm 67 such that flexing orbending of the arm occurs as shown in FIG. 9. As the crank arm 66continues to drive the arm 67 toward the end wall 63, it can beappreciated that the roller will roll off the face 84 thereby abruptlyreleasing the resilient arm 67 causing a sudden thrust on the rocker arm69 in the direction as indicated by arrow B which is transmitted throughthe fishing pole holder to a pole retained therein creating a whippingaction at the free end of the pole.

This same action is transmitted to the other holder 40 by means of therigid tie arm 72 and arm 73. The crank arm 66 then continues to rotateabout the motor shaft axis producing a pendulating motion at the rockerarm 69 including a rotating oscillating motion on the fishing poleholders 40 until the cam element 83 and roller are again driven intoengagement. This aforedescribed motion on the holders 40 produces anovel cyclic action on the free end of any fishing poles retained andsupported in the holders. This motion and action is obviously translatedto lures and bait secured in the normal manner from lines depending fromthe free ends of the poles.

It should also be noted that the frequency and intensity of the whippingaction and rotary oscillating motion can be selectively controlledmerely by adjusting the speed of the motor 28 through manipulation ofthe knob 32 of the variable impedance 31 which controls the magnitude ofthe voltage impressed across the motor.

The second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 and l 1. Since thisembodiment is substantially the same in structural makeup as the firstdescribed embodiment, many of the components are essentially the same asthose used in the first embodiment hereinbefore described. Therefore,wherever the same components have been used in these embodiments, theidentical reference numerals will be applied thereto and it is to beassumed that where such identical reference numerals are employed, thecomponents referred thereto will have essentially the same structuralmake-up and function as described for the first embodiment.

It can be seen that this embodiment includes the housing 14, the motor28 and diametrically disposed fishing pole holders 40 journaled andretained in the top wall 15 of the housing 14 as in the firstembodiment. However, the side wall 16 has mounted thereon a box-likestructure 90 for holding the variable impedance 31 and switch 30 toprovide clearance in the cavity 25 for a linkage mechanism 90 used inthis embodiment. As best seen in FIG. 11, the linkage mechanism 90comprises a crank arm 91 radially mounted on the motor shaft 29 andconstrained to rotate therewith. A pair of tie arms 92 and 93 eachhaving one of their ends pivotally mounted at a common place on thecrank arm 91 by a pin 94 to thereby produce an eccentric thereat. Theother end of tie arm 92 is pivotally connected by pin 95 to a rocker arm96 which is affixed to the shaft 52 of the holder 40 at that end of thehousing. The other tie arm 93 extends to the other end of the housingand pivotally connects by a pin 98 to a rocker arm 97 which is alsosecured to the shaft 52 of the holder at that other end.

It can be appreciated that as the crank arm 91 is rotated about, theeccentric relationship will produce a reciprocating motion in each ofthe tie arms 92 and 93. This reciprocating motion will cause each of therocker arms 96, 97 to move in a pendulating motion, as indicated by thearrows in FIG. 10. This pendulating motion is translated to the fishingpole holders 40 as an oscillatory rotary motion by the shafts 52. Thefrequency of the oscillation can be controlled by adjusting the variableimpedance 31 to a desired setting. The effect of such an adjustment onthe motor 20 is the. same as hereinbefore described for the firstembodiment.

It should also be noted that both the first and second embodiments weredisclosed with two fishing pole holders 40. It is obvious that in eachinstance, the apparatus would work equally well if only one holder wereemployed.

It will be appreciated that the described embodiment of the inventionchosen for the purposes of illustration and description herein is thatpreferred based upon requirements for achieving the objects of theinvention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirablemanner, due regard being had to existing factors of economy, simplicityof design and construction, production methods and the improvementssought to be effected. It will be understood that any particularstructure and functional aspect emphasized herein is not intended toexclude but rather to suggest such other modifications and adaptationsas fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus operative to retain and support a fishing pole andimpart a horizontal pendulating motion to the free end thereof,comprising a housing; a fishing pole holder mounted on said housing forrotation about a substantially vertical axis and operative to retainablysupport a fishing pole placed therein; linkage means including a rockerarm secured to said holder such that a pendulating motion of said rockerarm imparts an oscillating rotary motion to said holder; drive meansincluding a universal type motor having a driven rotatable shaft; acrank arm fixed at one end to said driven shaft for rotation therewith;and a tie arm pivotally interconnecting the other free end of said crankarm and a free end of said rocker arm whereby said crank arm isoperative to produce a pendulating movement in said rocker arm uponrotation of said motor shaft.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein impedance means arecoupled to said motor for controlling the voltage impressed across themotor from a suitable source to selectively adjust the rotary speed ofsaid driven shaft and thereby to determine the frequency at which saidholder oscillates.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein said fishing pole holdercomprises:

a tubular member having a cut away portion defining a semicylindricalsegment for receiving a fishing pole therein;

a supporting block having a centrally disposed shaft extending journaledin said housing and connected to said rocker arm; and

a wedged shaped member disposed between said tubular member and saidsupporting block effecting an inclined attitude of said tubular membersuch that a fishing pole retained therein will extend upwardly andoutwardly from said housing.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said tic arm comprises apair of arm members in lengthwise spaced end-toend relationship todefine a gap and with one of said pair of arm members connected at oneend to said crank arm and the other of said pair of arm membersconnected at the end remote from said one end of said one of said pairof arm members to said rocker arm; resilient means spanning said gap andconnecting said pair of arm members; and means acting upon said armmembers to effect a deflection and then an abrupt release of said tiearm to produce a sudden accelerated pendulating motion on said rockerarm which effects a whipping action on a pole retained in said holder.

5. An apparatus operative to retain a fishing pole and move the free endthereof in a back and forth cyclic annular pattern of movement whichincludes a whipping motion during at least a part of the cyclecomprising:

a housing;

a holder operative to retain a fishing pole, said holder mounted on saidhousing and joumaled therein for rotatable movement relative to saidhousing;

means for driving said holder;

means for interconnecting said drive means and holder, said meansoperative to provide a drive train from said drive means to said holdereffective to impart a cyclic oscillatory movement to the said holder;and

said interconnecting means including resiliently bendable thrust meansfor producing a substantial rate of change of velocity of the holderduring at least a part of the cyclic whereby a whipping action isproduced at the free end of a fishing pole retained by the holder.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said drive means includesa rotatably driven shaft; said interconnecting means including a crankarm connected to said shaft producing an eccentric motion thereat, and arocker arm operatively connected to said holder to impart the cyclicoscillatory movement thereto; and said thrust means disposed inoperative interconnection between said crank arm and rocker arm.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein said thrust meanscomprises, a resilient drive arm having a pair of rigid arm elementseach alternatively having one end thereof pivotally connected to saidcran arm and said rocker arm such that a gap is defined therebetween,resilient means disposed across said gap end interconnecting said armelements, means for engaging said drive arm to effect a bending at saidgap and a sudden releasing thereof to thereby produce a thrust on saidrocker arm which produces the substantial change of acceleration to saidholder.

8. The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said holder comprises, atubular member having a cut away portion defining a semicylindricalcavity for receiving a fishing pole therein, a supporting block having ashaft extending therefrom, said shaft journaled in said housing andconnected to said rocker arm, a member disposed between said tubularmember and supporting block to incliningly orient said tubular memberrelative to said housing wherein a fishing pole retained therein extendsupwardly and outwardly from said housing.

9. The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said drive meanscomprises; an electric motor of the universal type; a variable impedancemeans coupled to said motor being operative to vary the voltageimpressed across the motor and thereby selectively adjust the speed ofthe rotatably driven shaft wherein the frequency of the annular patternof movement and the intensity of the thrust can be chosen for aparticular bait and lure.

10. The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said apparatus includesa second holder essentially the same as the other holder anddiametrically disposed on said housing relative to the other holder,said second holder having a shaft, an arm connected to said shaft of thesecond holder, a tie arm pivotally interconnecting said rocker arm andsaid arm wherein substantially the same annular pattern of movementimparted to the other holder is transmitted to the second holder.

1. An apparatus operative to retain and support a fishing pole andimpart a horizontal pendulating motion to the free end thereof,comprising a housing; a fishing pole holder mounted on said housing forrotation about a substantially vertical axis and operative to retainablysupport a fishing pole placed therein; linkage means including a rockerarm secured to said holder such that a pendulating motion of said rockerarm imparts an oscillating rotary motion to said holder; drive meansincluding a universal type motor having a driven rotatable shaft; acrank arm fixed at one end to said driven shaft for rotation therewith;and a tie arm pivotally interconnecting the other free end of said crankarm and a free end of said rocker arm whereby said crank arm isoperative to produce a pendulating movement in said rocker arm uponrotation of said motor shaft.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1wherein impedance means are coupled to said motor for controlling thevoltage impressed across the motor from a suitable source to selectivelyadjust the rotary speed of said driven shaft and thereby to determinethe frequency at which said holder oscillates.
 3. The invention asrecited in claim 2, wherein said fishing pole holder comprises: atubular member having a cut away portion defining a semicylindricalsegment for receiving a fishing pole therein; a supporting block havinga centrally disposed shaft extending journaled in said housing andconnected to said rocker arm; and a wedged shaped member disposedbetween said tubular member and said supporting block effecting aninclined attitude of said tubular member such that a fishing poleretained therein will extend upwardly and outwardly from said housing.4. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said tie arm comprises apair of arm members in lengthwise spaced end-to-end relationship todefine a gap and with one of said pair of arm members connected at oneend to said crank arm and the other of said pair of arm membersconnected at the end remote from said one end of said one of said pairof arm members to said rocker arm; resilient means spanning said gap andconnecting said pair of arm members; and means acting upon said armmembers to effect a deflection and then an abrupt release of said tiearm to produce a sudden accelerated pendulating motion on said rockerarm which effects a whipping action on a pole retained in said holder.5. An apparatus operative to retain a fishing pole and move the free endtHereof in a back and forth cyclic annular pattern of movement whichincludes a whipping motion during at least a part of the cyclecomprising: a housing; a holder operative to retain a fishing pole, saidholder mounted on said housing and journaled therein for rotatablemovement relative to said housing; means for driving said holder; meansfor interconnecting said drive means and holder, said means operative toprovide a drive train from said drive means to said holder effective toimpart a cyclic oscillatory movement to the said holder; and saidinterconnecting means including resiliently bendable thrust means forproducing a substantial rate of change of velocity of the holder duringat least a part of the cyclic whereby a whipping action is produced atthe free end of a fishing pole retained by the holder.
 6. The inventionas recited in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a rotatablydriven shaft; said interconnecting means including a crank arm connectedto said shaft producing an eccentric motion thereat, and a rocker armoperatively connected to said holder to impart the cyclic oscillatorymovement thereto; and said thrust means disposed in operativeinterconnection between said crank arm and rocker arm.
 7. The inventionas recited in claim 6 wherein said thrust means comprises, a resilientdrive arm having a pair of rigid arm elements each alternatively havingone end thereof pivotally connected to said crank arm and said rockerarm such that a gap is defined therebetween, resilient means disposedacross said gap end interconnecting said arm elements, means forengaging said drive arm to effect a bending at said gap and a suddenreleasing thereof to thereby produce a thrust on said rocker arm whichproduces the substantial change of acceleration to said holder.
 8. Theinvention as recited in claim 7 wherein said holder comprises, a tubularmember having a cut away portion defining a semicylindrical cavity forreceiving a fishing pole therein, a supporting block having a shaftextending therefrom, said shaft journaled in said housing and connectedto said rocker arm, a member disposed between said tubular member andsupporting block to incliningly orient said tubular member relative tosaid housing wherein a fishing pole retained therein extends upwardlyand outwardly from said housing.
 9. The invention as recited in claim 7wherein said drive means comprises; an electric motor of the universaltype; a variable impedance means coupled to said motor being operativeto vary the voltage impressed across the motor and thereby selectivelyadjust the speed of the rotatably driven shaft wherein the frequency ofthe annular pattern of movement and the intensity of the thrust can bechosen for a particular bait and lure.
 10. The invention as recited inclaim 8 wherein said apparatus includes a second holder essentially thesame as the other holder and diametrically disposed on said housingrelative to the other holder, said second holder having a shaft, an armconnected to said shaft of the second holder, a tie arm pivotallyinterconnecting said rocker arm and said arm wherein substantially thesame annular pattern of movement imparted to the other holder istransmitted to the second holder.